Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday to you from our corner of Iowa where we managed to have a white Christmas after all.  We reached a balmy 47 degrees mid week and then the next day we were seeing a temperature of 8 degrees with 1/2 inch or so of the white stuff.  With wind chills at -26 we were reminded that winter does come to Iowa!  

Monday, the 21st, we drove out into the country to observe the North Star.  It was a small bright light in the sky when we saw it.  From there we drove about 20 minutes to a beautiful tree of lights you could see from the Interstate.  We drove down to it, and it was amazing to see.  From there we drove to a small town to enjoy a street they call "Candy Cane Lane" because of all the decorations and candy canes made of lights!  That evening was our one Christmas adventure for 2020.   

Christmas Eve day we made our pies and were able to watch three of our grands reading scriptures for their Christmas Eve service.  Then we watched the service at Lutheran Church of Hope.  We also were able to see a video recording of our oldest daughter playing keyboard and two of our grands and our son-in-law harmonizing to Silent Night at an outdoor service in the park that their church held with the temperature at 8 degrees and the wind chill at -10!  A cold night with people dedicated to worshiping our Lord!  We had a long talk (not walk) down memory lane with our oldest son later in the evening,  

Christmas day night we Zoomed with some of our family and today we Zoomed with our full time RVer friends.  Was so great to see our family and to catch up with friends who are living a life of travel and service.  Isn't Zoom an amazing gift??

Speaking of gifts, I purchased a book for my hubby this Christmas titled, "If You Lived Here You Would Be Home By Now", by Christopher Ingraham.  It's a great story about a Washington Post writer who moved from the commuting world in D.C. to a small town in northern Minnesota with his family.  It has touched us both as we reminisce about life in rural America where Joel spent his childhood and most of his ministry.  We highly recommend it.  

So this week we have much to be grateful for.  Lights.....in the sky, on a tree, and down a lane.  Grateful for Zoom, a warm house, virtual visits with some of our family, phone calls, a long catch up with friends, presents under the tree and pumpkin pie in our bellies.  So grateful for being able to hear some of our grands sing and read, and speaking of reading, getting lost in a book.  Grateful for Jesus coming to earth as a baby who would one day walk on water.  Would deliver our sons and daughters........Would save a nation, a world.  So grateful for the great I AM!  

Enjoy your weekend!

Revisiting Worship In The Little Rockies

 Almost every year I repost what I wrote about our favorite Christmas worship service.  While living in Montana Joel was able to officiate at a Christmas service up in the "Little Rockies" of Zortman, Montana.  We will never forget this unique, picturesque time of worship. It was so beautiful, so powerful......I hope you enjoy reading about it as we wish you Merry Christmas Eve!

                          

When my husband was in the seminary we spent his Internship year in North Central Montana. Malta’s Parish consisted of four main Lutheran churches, a hot springs resort chapel, and a tiny church in Zortman, Mt. ~ a historic mining town nestled in the foothills of the Little Rocky Mountains. Joel and his internship pastor ministered to all of these areas covering many miles each week.

The services at Zortman were held once a month, with most people driving around 75 miles across gravel roads to attend church and worship together. The small Catholic church sat on the top of a high hill and was one of only a few buildings in this small town. I believe at that time there were 9 full time residents in the village. People from the surrounding area often came to enjoy what the Little Rockies had to offer, and the small café/bar provided nourishment when they visited. We had the privilege of being a part of the Christmas service the year we were there, and it is stored away in our memories forever.

Our family drove the long distance through snow and freezing temperatures that December, arriving with many others shortly before the service. Everyone gathered at the local cafe beforehand, with all of us dressed for the bitter cold in snowmobile suits, snowsuits, insulated underwear, heavy boots, scarves, and warm mittens. When it was time for the services to begin, everything in the little town closed up. It was dark outside, and as we left the cafe many of us were given lanterns to carry up the long hill to the church. We were one of the last families to leave, and in doing so we were able to watch the glowing lights move up the steep winding path as the people walked the trail to the church. As each person carrying a lantern entered the sanctuary, the church filled up with light. What a beautiful sight to see! 

Once we arrived in the sanctuary, we all huddled together on benches to keep warm. The wood burning potbelly stove, which stood in the corner of the room, gave off a warm glow and provided the only heat in the church. Our hymns of Christmas joy were especially meaningful as we sang along to the old pump organ. Joel's breath was visible as he preached the Christmas message.  For many reasons, the Christmas story of Jesus being born in a humble stable held special meaning for us that night.

When services were over, we all walked back down the hill guided by the lanterns and moonlit sky. All those who attended then went into the local bar/café for coffee, dessert, and more fellowship together, before heading back out into the cold and traveling the long distance back home.

The service in the Little Rockies is forever a beautiful memory etched on our minds. Across the world people were coming together to worship our Lord and Savior and celebrate His birth. It did not matter whether we were worshiping in a big cathedral in New York City,  or a tiny “borrowed”  Catholic church in a small historic mining town in Montana. The focus was the same ~ giving glory to God for the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, our Lord!

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2016

Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday to you from northern Iowa where we have now lived for 24 1/2 years.  How did that happen?  We are originally from Minnesota but with Joel's 8 years in the military and 40 years in the ministry we have lived in several states and overseas, but never longer than 6 1/2 years a.n,y.w.h.e.r.e. And here we are, almost a quarter century in a small micropolis ( somewhere between rural living and small city living). We thought living here was just a temporary stop like all the others.  God knew differently.

Oh, we tried to move.....Joel took another church, a larger congregation in a town 50 miles east of here but long long story short we ended up living here while Joel commuted a long distance to serve a congregation until Lyme disease put a stop to that.  Then we tried to move to Gold Canyon, Arizona but breast cancer came calling the first time, so we took our house off the market and stayed here.  My health has kept us here as I have battled cancer a couple more times.  Arizona no longer calls us to a permanent move, although we would love to spend winters there!

So here we are, coming upon Christmas 2020, year number 24 in Iowa and number 16 in this house.  Those are big numbers for people who have lived more of a gypsy lifestyle for most of their married life.  There were lots of great things about moving so often, but just as many not so great things either.  We have noticed that our children have moved very few times and are settled in their present locations for a long time I would expect. 

And back to Christmas.  Turning down our street in our association we are greeted with Christmas lights and friendly neighbors.  We love that.  We like living on the edge of towns when we can, and we are living just a couple minutes walking from the river and walking paths.  Our neighborhood is quiet, and with humor we call it Lutherhaven since so many of our neighbors are, and attend a large local Lutheran congregation.  It's a good place to be.  

Speaking of a good place to be, this past week Joel dropped me off at the eye clinic so I could see the retina specialist and get an eye shot.  It is usually a 1 1/2 hr wait as so many need to see the doctor and he is only here Monday mornings and Tuesdays.  It is amazing how many people have eye issues.  Anyway I brought in three bags of Christmas candy for the receptionist as they have a bowl for people to enjoy and in the past before CoVid, Joel would enjoy his share.....the nurse behind the counter thaned me and we chatted.  Then she offered me some one -time -use Christmas masks!  So fun!  She gave me so many I told her, "Oh you better save some..."  And she replied . "I don't plan to need them next year, Renee!"  We had a good laugh (behind masks and social distancing) while hoping she was right!

Speaking of Covid, I was surprised that it brought me to tears to watch the first people getting their vaccines this week.  I am not one to jump in on vaccines against things, especially since my Lyme specialist told me not to have the flu vaccine because of how my body reacts, but I think this vaccine carries a lot of hope for a hurting world.  It is one I hope to be able to get.  

Today Joel and I cut each other's hair once again.  Definitely not styled....but definitely trimmed and cut.  It is amazing what we can do when we need to!  What is the worst that can happen?  Hair grows....well, not much on the top of Joel's head and not enough on the top of mine since chemo....but all is good.

I have been reading about this flour that is supposed to be tolerated well by those with gluten sensitivities so I decided to order some of it from Sunrise Flour Mill ~ I ordered it and received it in less than 24 hours which blew my mind.  It is so costly it should be called "Gold" Meadow flour I, but  am looking forward to making some bread with it.....although it has been years since I have made yeast rising bread.  I actually made all our bread for a few years, even when I did day care.  Then it just got easier to buy it!  I think I need to quit watching the British Baking Shows!  I want to bake a lot more since tuning in to them......thus the organic heritage wheat flour that is sitting on my counter.

It is always good to hear from people we seldom see.  Cards come from Montana, Minnesota, South Carolina, Arizona, Iowa, WI, and a few other places.  Catching up is good, although this year we found out that two people we knew from Montana both died in the past 18 months.  They were an amazing couple who encouraged and supported Joel/us in his first 3 point parish in Montana.  So good, kind, and generous.  I am sure their families miss them.  We were also able to talk with a long time friend, Marge, whom we met with her husband Dick in Salt Lake City in the early 70's.  Another wonderful couple who encouraged and mentored us......So grateful for both these couples and for a long chat with Marge today.

So, giving thanks this week for Heritage Flour, the British Baking Show, old friends and the memories that surround them, fun Christmas masks to wear, the first vaccines, the staff at the Retina clinic, chatting and laughing with family, new hair cuts, and the gifts of the season.  So grateful.

Enjoy your weekend!

Finding Joy

Last Friday as I sat back and closed my eyes, God showed me an old fashioned train.  I was standing on the platform and before me was a train filled with people.  I could clearly see only one person and it was like I knew who she was but didn't know at the same time.  The whole scene was in black and white and shades of grey. I remember moving back on the platform and thinking, "I don't want to be on that train."  As I watched the train, I heard the words, "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice"......Then as I looked at the powerful locomotive, a bright beam of light appeared and moved back through each car of the train and the heaviness seemed to lift, people seemed more active, and the one woman I could see clearly gently smiled.  I tucked this away in my heart, waiting for more clarity on it.

This third week of Advent focuses on joy.  On Sunday we were watching livestream Lutheran Church of Hope and during the sermon the pastor put up on the screen Philippians 4:4. There is was again......Philippians 4:4 that tells us to "Rejoice always, and again I will say, rejoice."  We do so because the Lord is at hand as verse 5 tells us. The pastor went on to say that we find joy in God's Presence and in His promises. It certainly felt like God was trying to get my attention.

Some of the Christmas cards I had purchased this year had "Christmas Joy" written on the front of them and I kept thinking, how do I send these out as we grieve all the losses this year with CoVid.  The losses we have had in our family and extended families in the past two weeks with the death of my sister Jo, Gr. Jo/ Gi Gi,  to our kids and grandkids, the death of yet another great grandmother for some of our own grands, and the death in an in-law's family of their sister to CoVid.  So much loss, so much sadness.  Yet God was reminding me to rejoice always.  Not so easy to do.

We are not being asked to deny our circumstances, our sadness, or our fears, but in the midst of them we look to Jesus knowing that "the joy of the Lord is our strength" (Nehemiah 8:10).  We rejoice because in God's presence and His promises we are able to find the joy that eludes us in our circumstances.  Last December I began proton radiation treatments at Mayo Clinic.  We stayed at Hope Lodge during the week along with so many battling cancer.  One thing stood out for me when we were there, the joy still to be found in trying circumstances.  We were blessed by the stay, the people we met, the staff who cared for me.  So blessed.  Joy was present in the fellowship around meals, in the technicians who always were positive, in the Christmas music I listened to during treatments.  Joy was present. And today in the midst of a pandemic, in the midst of death and grief, in the midst of suffering and loss we turn our eyes upon Jesus and have joy in His presence and in His promises.  Joy in the memories we hold dear with those who have died.  Joy in the treasures we hold in our hands that were special.  Joy in knowing where our loved ones are celebrating Christmas this year.  We find joy in the depths of our sorrow because God is with us.  The Babe born in a manger gives us reason to rejoice.

So, knowing that God is with us gives us the courage and hope to grieve with a sense of joy.  Joy is not based on happiness, but on what we know.  And we know He is with us.  We know where our loved ones are.  We know we will see them again.  We know CoVid will end.  We know God has this.   In His presence and in His promises we find joy.  

Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday to you from our corner of Iowa where the weather has turned cold, but the white stuff has still not arrived and we are okay with that. We have spent a few winters without snow over the years ..........when we lived in the Philippine Islands, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Salt Lake City Utah. One year in the Philippines we had a big star pinata and were in shorts and tank tops as we gathered together with military friends.  Of course the snow makes for a prettier Christmas season, but it is still possible to celebrate without it!!! 

It will be a quiet Christmas this year as we stay home and as we grieve the death of Gr. Jo. She did love the Holidays and was able to be with family in the Twin Cities every year. I imagine they will especially feel her absence as they gather.  I can't help but ponder what it would be like to celebrate in Heaven! Oh, the music and joy to be heard!

Christmas 2020

Speaking of music, I am playing Christmas music as I write this. Our old favorite CD's are taken out of the drawer along with a small CD player at this time of year so we can reminisce with the Christmas sounds of Kenny G, Alabama, Vince Gill, Pentatonix, Sax by the Fire, and a few others.  We are enjoying having the house decorated and getting a little baking done.  Unfortunately, although the baking and eating tasks are enjoyable, my body easily gains weight with only one or two indulgences!

Speaking of indulgences(?), the past couple of weeks Joel has spent a lot of time in the garage shop working on small woodworking projects.  It will soon be too cold for those, but being we have a furnace in the garage I have a feeling nothing will stop him!  He loves having projects to do, he is not one to just sit around until after supper when the recliner then calls his name.  It's what keeps him strong and healthy!  He managed one more bike ride when it was a mere 38 degrees before putting away his recumbent for the winter.  We have gotten out for a few walks outside but mostly I walk here in the house.  A few deer have come through the yard, including 3 who snuggled up for two days in a row to rest in our yard. Joel loves when this happens ~ he just pulls up a chair and "meditates" on nature.  It always nourishes his soul.

I have not posted a Saturday's Scribbles since before Thanksgiving, but ours was a nice one, considering our kids did not come home as planned. Plans changed with CoVid.   We decided to have a traditional meal with turkey, dressing, rice, gravy, sweet potatoes, fruit salad and cranberries.  Plus some homemade pumpkin (for Joel) and sweet potato pie (for me).  I had to chuckle because when Joel went shopping I asked him to buy a large container of heavy whipping cream......in my mind it was a pint, but Joel came home with a quart of it!  Who knew it was a thing?  I need to get out more!

We started the day with a long fun visit with our oldest son and ended the day with a Zoom gathering with 4 of 5 of our kids.  We were able to visit with some of the grands too.  So fun!  Congrats to our oldest grandson who just graduated from college (early) with a degree in environmental engineering.  So proud of his hard work and just who he is.  All our grands do us proud!  

We made a trip to the Twin Cities to pick up a few things from Gr. Jo's apartment a week ago.  Joel had made her a coffee table many years ago so that is now in our family room.  We were able to visit with my sister Janelle ( masked of course) in the process. Gr. Jo loved her little apartment so much and cherished all her "treasures".  She would be happy to have them now in the hands of her family.  That trip was the first time I had traveled 2 hours (one way) in 16 months! Yeah, I'm a real world traveler!

About ten days ago we had our Internet switched to our cable company...bunding the TV, home phone, and Internet together.  They came out and set things up for us, which was so nice.  So, two days later Joel goes upstairs to take the pictures off his phone and put them on his laptop.  I was downstairs watching TV and all of a sudden Joel's pictures are coming across the TV!  What??  I told Joel and he tried to stop it and when he did, our TV went blank.  No TV, no Netflix, no Prime Video.....oh boy.  After trying to figure things out ourselves we called our cable company and got someone in a third world country to help us out........she was a sweetie and more importantly we could understand her.......so she spent a half hour getting us to get our TV back and running.  At the end, when I said to her, "Oh, it is BACK!!  Thank you!  You just saved our weekend!", I heard several people in the background, cheer and clap!   

Speaking of cheering and clapping, with the FDA giving emergency clearance for the CoVid vaccine I expect there are quite a few people cheering and clapping. My prayer is that it helped stop this horrible pandemic. We are beginning to know people who have died from this plague and it becomes very real then. Our prayers are with all those who are grieving or fighting hard to live.  Lord have mercy.

So this week, as cold weather gave us reason to dig out the soup pot, there is much to be grateful for.  Grateful for my sister Jo, her life and her legacy of love.  Grateful for Christmas decorations that bring us joy, for the smell of cookies, for a hubby who does projects for his family, for a vaccine that brings hope, for candles, old CD's, a new better Internet, for Advent, for Amazon deliveries, for deer that visit our yard,  memories of snowless Christmases and homemade chicken soup simmering on the stove.  So grateful................

Enjoy your weekend!

She Will Be Greatly Missed

 

Joey and Me

On December first my sister Joanne (Joey to me) went home to be with Jesus.  On that day we lost an amazing woman to complications from heart disease.  She fought a hard battle to stay here with all those she loved, but at age 87 her body just gave out. Oh, how we will miss this fun, strong, opinionated, loving woman who was passionate about her faith, her family, and her politics!

My sisters Jan, Joey, and Me

Joey, Grandma Jo to my children,  was 15 years older than me while my sister Jan is 11 years older. Joey held a unique place in my life.  When I was in 4th grade I moved in with her and her family the first time and spent several months there while my mom was battling alcoholism.  I lived with my mom in 5th grade but it was not going well, so when I was 12 I moved back into Joey's family, living there until I went off to Bible College, and in 1968 married Joel.  Her kids were close to me in age with the oldest only three years younger than me, so I became the oldest of the five of us and they became my siblings.  I am forever grateful to God for adding them into my life.  Those years not only brought me sisters and brothers whom I cherish, but a firm foundation of faith and the security of a family that I needed.  

Renee, Kay, Dick, Janelle, and Todd

The five of us with Joey

She loved her kids, grandkids, great grandkids and great-great grands very much and liked to call each of them on their birthdays to sing her special song.  She kept in touch as much as she could with the family through cards, phone calls, and texting.  She was always interested in where they were going and what they were doing.  She prayed for them and spent a good deal of time bragging about them!

Love this taken so many years ago of Gr Jo

surrounded by grandkids

In this time of Covid, there will be no funeral.  The plan is for a celebration of life next Spring ~ hopefully around her birthday, since that was a time she liked to gather her family over the years.  So today we grieve the death of Gr. Jo with hope.  We grieve with hope because we know that we will see her again, because we know that she is with Jesus.  And we grieve her death with gratitude for having her in our lives.  If this past year has not taught us anything, I pray it has taught us how important relationships are, how precious life is, and how much love brings us together.  

We called her Joey, sister, mom, friend, Gr. Jo, GiGi

You are loved and will be missed